Law School Visitation after Admission

[heart]

Thanks to PowerScore, I have already gained admission into several great schools. It is so strange to spend months thinking you will choose the school with the highest ranking but when reality hits, there are so many other factors that come into play when deciding a school. At this point I am even considering a 70s ranked school over a top 30 school, both of which had admitted me. As everyone says, Ive come to the conclusion that the only way to solidify a decision is to visit the schools themselves.

I am currently working but I do not make enough to spare the expense of traveling cross country for visiting law schools, especially if I am to take a few days off of work for travel. Is it appropriate or even normal for me to inquire as to whether a specific school has a fund for admitted students intending to visit? I have a fear of rudeness and I don't want to take the liberty of assuming the admissions offices are used to this question and wouldnt take offense.

If this is encouraged, how would I go about asking?

Thank you so much PowerScore! You guys rock.

[Nikki Siclunov]

Hey heart,

First off, congrats on having so many choices! Your hard work has apparently paid off now it's decision time! I suspect that you're considering the lower ranked schools because they offered you scholarship money? If so, please take a look at the following articles that others in your position have found tremendously helpful:

Scholarship vs. Prestige: When to Take the Money and Run?

A Law Degree Is Worth over $1 Million. Can You Get It for Free?

Law School Transparency

No Such Thing As a Free Lunch: the Fine Print on Full Scholarship Offers

Regarding your question about visiting law schools, admitted students usually cover their own travel expenses. That doesn't mean you shouldn't ask for some financial assistance! The worst they can say is NO Trust me, your offer of admission won't be revoked. By the way, if attending an Admitted Students day, you may be able to crash with a 1L and save money that way. Many 1L's volunteer as school ambassadors during the Spring, and quite a few of them will make their apartments available to prospective students to stay for free. If you're interested in this option, definitely inquire with the Admissions Office.

Let us know if you need any help choosing the right school. It's a highly personal decision, of course, but there are objective criteria that should be taken into account when deciding.

Good luck!

[heart]

Thanks Nikki,

I have been having trouble deciding against rank vs proximity. I have family in California, my home, and I would like to end up practicing in southern california near them. I have spent time living on the east coast and I love it there but my family and I are not too willing to part from each other. This would be different if I was accepted at a top ten university or something similarly prestigious but this hasn't happened yet. The schools on the East coast that have granted me admission are a good 40 ranks or more above the california schools that accepted me so far. I guess my main problem is one I have always wondered, and that is how important is it to attend school where you intend to practice?

I have heard this for years while preparing for a career in law but it seems like nothing could have prepared me for the current decisions I face. I know that there are still quite a few decisions on the way for me, but I am already feeling trapped in making a decision.

As I go through this process, the rank matters less to me but I become more aware of how it might look to potential employers, most specifically if I attend a top 30 law school in the east and return to find work in so cal. What do you all make of this? My brain is pretty fried from the constant LSAT to Applications to decisions game. I feel that perhaps Im not approaching things the right way because of this.

[Nikki Siclunov]

Hi,

Thanks for clarifying! Yes, the general rule of thumb is - unless you get into a national, Top-14 school, go to the school located in a region where you'd like to practice. There are some exceptions to that, of course, which is precisely why it can be a complicated decision. You'll need to research your options carefully and figure out a few things:

1. What is the job placement rate of each school you're considering in the region you'd like to work in?
2. How much would it cost to attend?
3. What class rank do you need in order to get the employment opportunities you seek after graduation?

Let's say, for the sake of argument, that you want to work in San Diego. You are debating between Boston University (a top-30 school) and the University of San Diego Law School (a top-100 law school). The latter will place much better in San Diego than Boston University, even though BU is ranked higher. Sure, there will be probably a handful of people at BU who will want to work in San Diego, so competition for these jobs will be close to non-existent. But, at the same time, almost no firms from San Diego will be recruiting at BU. Even if you look at the state of California as a whole, only the largest CA law firms will trek all the way to Boston, and you'll need to have top grades to get an interview with them. Networking where you want to practice is key outside the top-14 schools, and it's a lot easier done if you have a robust alumni base on the ground. Faced with this choice, I'd go to San Diego Law.

My advice would be - wait until all the decisions roll in before you start obsessing over school A vs. school B. You'll have plenty of opportunity to do your homework, and want to be working with a full deck of cards. We'll be more than happy to help you make the right decision - just ask!